Murkowski to Discuss Energy Priorities for the 113th Congress at Commonwealth North Forum

Published: August 15, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Lisa Murkowski today will discuss her priorities for Alaska for the upcoming 113th Congress at a Commonwealth North Forum at 12:30 pm in Anchorage. Senator Murkowski will hold a media availability immediately following the forum.

Senator Murkowski is poised to take over the chairmanship of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee should Republicans win a majority of the seats in the Senate in November. Senator Murkowski will lay out her priorities for Alaska for the coming year

“If I am fortunate enough to be chairman of these committees, my highest priority will be to restore balance. I'll start with a few simple principles and the goal of promoting energy that is affordable, abundant, clean, diverse, and secure,” says Senator Murkowski. “Energy with these characteristics – responsibly developed and responsibly deployed – is vital for the economy and our nation’s future. Most Americans agree, but too regularly decisions by the federal government actually run in the other direction and use or accept high prices and individual economic pain to force behavior changes.”

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over the nation’s energy policy and the management of federal land holdings, including the federally owned lands that make up 60 percent of Alaska. The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee sets the budget for the Department of Interior and its agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management; Bureau of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Senator Murkowski has been developing a proposal for a national energy plan to implement her principles of affordable and abundant energy. Other issues Senator Murkowski will discuss include her efforts to secure revenue sharing for Alaska and other coastal states, develop new markets for North Slope natural gas, responsibly produce Alaska’s resources in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, and promote critical minerals and other mining activities.

WHAT: Remarks to Commonwealth North: “If I Were the Energy Committee Chairman”

WHEN: August 15 (TODAY) 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm AKDT with a media availability immediately following